Paper-feed mechanism



A. R. SCHOLIN I PAPER FEED MECHANISM Filed Nov; 17, 1922 e Sheets-Sheet 1 MXM 55 Jan. 13. 1925. 1,522,749

A. R. SCHOLIN PAPER FEED MECHANISM Filed Nov. 17 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 11,522,74Q A. R. SCHOLIN PAPER FEED MECHANI SM Filed Nov. 17, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ji 13, 1925. 31,522,74Q

A. R. SCHOLIN PAPER FEED MECHANISM Fed Nov. 17 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 13, 1925. 1,522,74

A. R. SCHOLIN PAPER FEED MECHANISM Filed Nov. 17, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 1925. 1,522,749

A. R. SCHQLIN PAPER FEED MECHANISM Filed Nov. 17, 1922 b Sheets-Sheet a Patented dam. 13, 1925.

UNETE 1,522,743 FATENT t i AXEL R; SCHOLIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNO'R T AUTOMATIC WRAPPING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION O'F ILLINOIS.-

PAPER-FEED MEGHQNISM.

To all whom a: may concern:

Be it known that I, AXEL B. SGHOLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Feed Mechanism, of which the following a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for feeding paper or other thin sheets, one at a time, from .a stack, and has for its object the provision of such mechanism which shall be )f improved construction and operatlon.

The invention is exemplified in the com bination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation of one embodlment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section substantially on line 3-3 of'Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view, with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a 1m valve'forming a part of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the valve shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section substantially on line 77 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a water supply valve forming a part of the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, there is illustrated a form applicable to labeling machines such as that described in my Patent No. 1,417,946, granted May 30, 1922, but it is understood that this invention isapplicable to a large variety of machines other than that of the patent referred to.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a frame supporting a standard 11 on which a paper table 12 is mounted to slide vertically and to carry a stack of sheets 13 to be fed, one at a time, from the top thereof. Suitable counterbalancing means and feeding mechanism for maintaining the top sheet of the stack at substantially a uniform level is employed, but this mechanism does not form a part of the present invention and is only partially illustrated herein.

At the front of the stack 13 a lip or flange 14 engages the front edges of the upper most sheets to retain the lower sheets when the top one is lifted. The sheets are raised from the stack and fed forwardly by suction heads 15 having internal suction chambers open at the bottom for contacting with the top surface of the uppermost sheet; Suction tubes 16 communicate with the heads 15 to create the lifting vacuum within the heads at proper intervals. The heads 15 are supported on lever arms 17 pivotally mounted at 18 on arms 19. The arms 19 are fixed to a sleeve 20 which is journaled on a shaft-21. The shaft 21 also carries a pair of sleeves 22 rigidly fixed thereto and provided with rearwardly extending arms 23. Each arm 23 has a downwardly projecting finger 24 in alinement with the arms 19 so that when the shaft 21 is moved in a clockwise direction, as

viewed in Fig. 3, the lower ends of the fingers 24 will engage the arms 19 and shift them forwardly to move the suction heads 15 and thus feed the top sheet from the pile 13.

The arms 23 also are provided with stops 25 secured to their arms by pivots 26 and having openings through which rods 27 extend. Each rod 27 is connected at its lower end by a pivot 28 with its corresponding lever 17. Coil springs 29 surround the upper When the shaft 21 begins to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, the arm 23 will move downwardly, releasing the spring 29 and permitting the spring 31 to raise the lever arm 17 and the head 15, thus lifting the topmost sheet from the stack. Further rotation of the shaft 21 will cause the fingers 24 to engage the arms 19 and move the heads 15 forwardly until the sheet carried thereby is brought into position to engage the feed rollers 35. Two sets of supplies air pressure to the nozzles 49.

rollers 35 are provided which have interfitting grooves and beads to grip the paper and feed it to the machines supplied with the sheets.

In the present application of the invention, a series of pipes 36 direct jets of water against the under face of the sheet as it s discharged from the rollers 35. This water is supplied from a pipe 37 connected through a valve 38 to a supply pipe 39-. The valve, as shown in Fig. 8, is provided with a plunger 40 Which is raised by an operating rod 41 for opening the valve. The rod 41 1S fpivotally, supported at 42 on the frame of the machine and is drawn downwardly by a sprin 43 to hold the valve closed. It is perio ically raised by a stem 44 carried by the gear 34 so that the valve is operated to project a. series of jets against the lower face of the sheet at the time that the sheet moves away from the rollers 35. These ets assist in supporting the sheet as it is projected from the rollers and at the same time moistens it to enable it to be more readily applied to a device to be labeled.

The suction heads 15 are provided with laterally projecting pins 45 which engage cam tracks 46 during the forward movement of the suction heads to properly direct the sheet carried thereby into engagement with the rollers 35. "The heads 15 are carried by pivots'47 to permit them to properly accommodate themselves to the top of the stack and movement of the heads on the pivots is limited by pins 48. To assist in separating the topmost sheet from the stack air nozzles 49 are located to each side of the stack adjacent the rear thereof in position to direct streams of air against the edges oi the sheets. These nozzles have elongated openings extending transverse to the edges of the sheets so that a stream will engage the topmost sheets even though the top of the stack should be varied somewhat in its position. To further assist in separating the uppermost sheet, a pair of suction tubes 50 have their lower ends located above the rear corners of the sheets 13. The suction tubes 16 and 50 are connected through a valve 51: to a rotary suction pump 52. The discharge 53 of the pump 52 is connected through a conduit 54 with a pipe 55 wl iliph It? pump 52 is of the continuously operating type so that continuous vacuum and pressure are supplied thereby.

The valve 51, as shown more clearly in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, is connected through a conduit 56 with the pump 52 and is provided with an internal chamber 57 in which a rod 58 is mounted for vertical movement. The rod 58 is provided with a pair of cone valves 59 and 60 which seat the upper and lower edges of the chamber 57 to close the portions of the chamber communicating with conduits 61 and 62, respectively. The conduits 61 are connected with the suction tubes 50, and the conduits'62 are connected with the suction heads 1 5. The valve rod 58 is oscillated by a bell crank lever 63 pivotedat 64, as shown in Fig. 3, and provided with a roller 65 which engages a cam 66 secured to a shaft 67 on which the gear 34 is mounted. The upper end of the rod 58 is provided with a collar 68 having a limited sliding movement thereon. \Vhcn the rod 58 is in its lowermost position the collar 68 closes the openings 69 in the upper end of the valve casing 51.

A p g 70 normally raises the lever 63 and holds the valve stem 58 in the position shown in Fig. 7. When the parts are in this position the conduits 61 are connected with the pump 52 through the pipe 56 so that the suction tubes 50 will raise the rear corners of the topmost sheet, as shown in .Fig. 3.

Further rotation of the shaft 67 Will cause the cam 66 to actuate the bell crank lever 63 and lower the valve stem 58. During the downward movement air will enter through the openings 69 and break the vacuum, thus releasing the paper from the suction tubes 50. The jets from the nozzles 49 will continue to hold the sheet in separation from the stack so that it may be lifted by the heads 55 which are connected with the suction pump immediately after the disconnection of the suction tubes 50. The connection between the heads 15 and the suction pump is effected by the movement of the valve stem 58 which causes the valve 59 to seat and close the lower end of the chamber 57 while opening the upper end to the suction pump 52. At the same time the flange 71 on the collar 68 closes the openin 69 to prevent connection with the atmosp ere. Immediately after suction is produced in the heads 15 these heads are raised by the mechanism previously described and move forwardly until the front edge of the sheet comes into contact with the feed rollers 35. At this time the roller 65 drops from the high portion 72 of the cam 66 to the intermediate portion 73 which retains the valve stem 58 in an intermediate position so that the interior of the valve 51 is connected with atmosphere and the vacuum is broken to release the sheet from the suction head. The vacuum remains broken until the head is returned to its initial position.

Supplemental air jets ma be directed against the sides of the stackt rough nozzles 74 connected with the discharge outlet 54 of the pump 52. The shaft 67"also carries a cam 75 which engages a roller 76 on a bell crank 77 connected to a shaft 78. The shaft 78 is provided with ratchet mechanism, not shown, for lifting the table 12 and a feeler bar 79 is connected to the end of the bell IOU insane crank lever 77 to engage the top, of the stack 13 to control the operation of the bell crank lever 77 and shaft 7 8.

I claim :r 1. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising stationary suction means for drawing a portion of a sheet away from remaining sheets,

and means for directing a .jet of air beneath the lifted portion.

2. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a pair of stationary suction devices having ends spaced apart from a sheet of paper for 'lifting opposite rear corners of said sheet sheet to carry it forwardly from said stack.

4. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a pair of stationary suction members for lifting the rear portion of the uppermost sheet of the stack, nozzles for directing currents of air beneath the uplifted portion of said sheet, a pair of suction heads for lifting said sheet and removing it from said stack, and means for moving said suction heads to bring them into engagement with the top of said sheet and subsequently to lift said heads and earn them forwardly with the sheet held there y. I

5. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a support for a stack of sheets, a pair of spaced suction heads for lifting sheets from said stack, resilient means for pressing said heads againt the top of said stack, means for exhausting air from said heads, means for lifting said-heads while the air is exhausted therefrom and moving said heads to carry the uppermost sheet from said stack, and stationary suction means for assisting in the separation of the uppermost sheet of said stack.

6. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a movable suction head for lifting a sheet from a stack, and a stationary suction 'device for assisting in separating the uppermost sheet from said stack.

7 Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a movable suction head for lifting the uppermost sheet from a stack, a stationary suction device forassisting in separating said sheet, and means for directing a jet of air beneath said sheet.

8. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a support for a stack of sheets, a stationary suction device positioned above the top of said stack, a movable suctionheadfor engaging said stationary suction device, means for moving said suction head, and means for saidstack at a place spaced from relieving the vacuum in said stationary sucas tion device during the movement of said suetion head.

9. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a support for a. stack of sheets, a stationary suction device'for lifting a portion of a top sheet from said'stack, means for directing a jet of air beneath the lifted portion, a mov able suction head for engaging said sheet, means for lifting said suction head and moving itlaterally relative to said stack, and means for reliveing the vacuum in said stationary suction device during the lateral movement of said head. 10. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a support for a stack of sheets, a pair of stationary suction devices having open ends spaced apart from said stack for lifting opposite corners of a sheet to be fed, means for directing jets of air beneath the lifted corners, a pair of suction heads for lifting said sheet and moving it laterally relative to said stack, and means for relieving the vacuum in said suction devices during the lateral movement of said head.

1 11. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a stationary suction device and a movable suction head for separating a sheet from the top of a stack, means for exhausting air from said suction device and head, and a valve for alternately connecting said head and suction device with said exhausting means.

12-. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a stationary suction device and a movable suction head for separating the uppermost sheet from a stack, a pump for exhausting air from said device and head, and means connected with the exhaust of said pump for directing a current of air beneath the sheet being separated. v v

13. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a stationary suction device for lifting a portion of a sheet to be fed, a movable suction head for transferring said sheet from a stack, means for exhausting air from said device and head, and a valve for alternately connecting said device and head with said exhaust means, said valve being arranged to break the vacuum insaid suction device during the movement of said head away from said stack.

14:. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprisin a support for astack ofsheets, a suction head for lifting the sheets from said stack,

means for moving said head to and away from said stack, a stationary conduit having an open mouth spaced apart from the top of: said stack, a continuously operating exhaust pump, a valve connectingsaid conduit and head with said pump and arranged to alternately connect said head and conduit with said pump and to connect both said head and conduit with atmosphere, and means operating in timed relation with the movement of said/head for controlling said valve.

15'. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a suction head for moving sheets, one at a time, from a stack, means for moving said I head to and away from the top of said stack,

therein connected with said exhaust device rent of air and having a movable member for alternately connecting said chamber with said head and. conduit and for connecting said head and conduit to atmosphere, and means operating in timed relationfwith the move -ment of said head for operating said valve.

16. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a support for a stack of sheets, pairs of feed rollers for receiving sheet from said stack, a suction head for moving sheets from said stack to said rollers, a supplemental suction device for lifting a portion of a sheet to be fed, means for directing a current of air beneath said sheet prior to its removal from said stack, and means for directing jets of water beneath said sheet to moisten the under side of the same and to convey said sheets from one pair of rollers to the next 17. Sheet-feedingmechanism comprising a supportfor a stack of sheets, a movable suction head for transferring sheets from said stack, pairs of rollers for receiving sheets from said suction head, a supplemental suction device for lifting a, portion of a sheet to be fed, means for directing a curbeneath' the lifted portion, a valve for controllin the vacuum in said suction head and device, means for directing jets'of water beneath a sheet as it leaves one of said pairs of rollers to convey said sheet to the next pair of rollers, a valve for controlling the supply of water, and mechanism operating in timed relation to the movement of said suction head for controlling said valves.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 14th day of November, A. D. 1922.

, AXEL R. SOHOLIN. 

